The forum was organized in cooperation with the French National School of Transportation and Infrastructure and the School of Engineering of the City of Paris and with the local leadership of the University of New Orleans and Tulane University. It was sponsored by the French Associations of Mayors, the French Government (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Ministry of Environment & Sustainable Development), the French Ambassador to the United States, the French General Consulate in New Orleans, and the “ECORISE” Consortium of Universities.

The long-term purpose of the Colloquium is to establish an international emergency forum of city officials and local governments to assess the best methods of sustainable recovery through the rebuilding of critical city infrastructure. It is also expected that this forum will further the dialogue of French and American cities on the issue of sustainable urban development.